Why do kids love Red Bull and Rock Star? Do teachers and other adults drink these energy beverages to get through the day? Are these drinks good for you? Can they be harmful?
These are just a few of the questions we had, so we asked Safford teachers and students about their energy drink consumption. We also decided to do a little research on the effects of these wildly popular drinks.
Anna Larson, an English teacher, says that she drinks Red Bull in the morning so she can wake up. “I enjoy the taste of Red Bull, but I know it’s not good for me,” Larson says.
In fact, drinking energy beverages can cause your energy to shoot way up and then plummet so that you’ll need to drink another one to stay awake.
Student Javier Gomez says, “I like energy drinks because they taste good and they make me happy and hyper.”
This makes sense if you read labels. A Red Bull has about 80 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce serving. On the Rock Star label it states that the drink “is not recommended for children, pregnant women and people sensitive to caffeine.”
In the end, what you drink is up to you. But, at least now you’ll know the facts about what you’re drinking and its effects.
PROMOTING LITERACY THROUGH JOURNALISM
The Tucson Citizen is in partnership with Bear Essential News, Domino’s Pizza and KVOA to promote literacy through journalism.